19 Bad Habits You Should Drop Before You Turn 30

The idea of needing to be in a serious relationship or being ready to settle down in your twenties is a social construct. And anyone who's putting pressure on you for not having a significant other needs to CHILL.

Do this instead: Your twenties are a time for exploration and figuring out what you want. By no means should you feel inadequate if you haven't found "the one" yet. Go out, meet new people, and have fun. You shouldn't be on a manhunt every time you leave the house.

Sun damage can have long-term consequences for your health and also how you look: We're talking skin cancer, premature aging and wrinkles, and discoloration.

Do this instead: The Skin Cancer Foundation says if you're going to be exposed to the sun for 30 minutes or more, try to apply sunscreen 30 minutes in advance before you go outside. Make sure to reapply every two hours, especially if you're sweating a lot or in the water. If you wear makeup, make sure to apply sunscreen first, before the makeup...even if your makeup has sun protection in it. Note: Alcohol also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, increasing your chances of getting burned.

While it may be convenient, eating out puts a serious dent in your monthly earnings. A survey done by CouponCodes4u showed that the average American spends around $9,000 a year on takeout.

Do this instead: Try prepping work lunches on the weekend so that you're not spending an extra $5-10 every day throughout the week. This alone could save you around $200 a month. You can also download the app Mint, which helps you create a budget, track your spending, and calculate your credit score. That way you can decide if you should stay in and cook dinner instead of going out.

You are never going to please everyone. Spending all your time and energy trying to make everyone happy is just going to stress you out and lead to your own unhappiness.

Do this instead: Don't be afraid to voice your opinions, say no when you don't want to do something, and start valuing your own judgment. Your physical and emotional health will thank you for it.

As you get older, it's easy to form a bad habit of only reaching out to friends and family when you need something from them, which is not a healthy way to maintain your relationships.

Do this instead: Set aside some time each week to reach out to your loved ones, whether it's by making a quick phone call, setting up a time to FaceTime, or sending a simple "how are you" text. Your relationships are extremely important, especially in your twenties, and you don't want to take them for granted.

While any type of tanning can be harmful, tanning beds are especially unsafe because they can emit up to three times the amount of UVA radiation released by the sun. Studies have shown that people who use tanning salons are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who don't. Tanning beds can also cause premature skin aging (like wrinkles and age spots), and if you don't use proper eye protection it can also increase your risk of potentially blinding eye diseases.

Do this instead: There are a lot of other ways to get a "natural tan" look without having to bake in a tanning bed, such as towelettes (try L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes), lotions (try Neutrogena's Build a Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning Lotion), cosmetics (try Tarte's Amazonian Clay Mineral Bronzer), or getting a spray tan instead.

After a long week, sleeping in feels like heaven. But a study done at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center showed that while you may think you're catching up on sleep during the weekend, the extra hours aren't helping to boost alertness or energy levels. The extra sleep actually disrupted participants' internal clocks — circadian rhythms — and made them more tired come Monday.

Do this instead: Schedule plans, whether it's hanging out with friends and family, grocery shopping, or a workout class, so that you're up by a reasonable time. Also try to get around eight hours of sleep on weeknights so that your body never feels like it has to play catch-up. One way you can get to bed earlier is by powering down your technology one to two hours before your ideal bedtime. Studies have shown the "blue light" from different smartphones and computers can suppress melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.

Facing an issue head-on can make you feel vulnerable and extremely uncomfortable. But putting it off and being indirectly aggressive can result in only worsening the situation.

Do this instead: Politely ask the person you're upset with to talk with you face-to-face. Confronting someone through texts and emails is not ideal because it's easy to misinterpret tone, which leaves a lot of room for miscommunication.

Life, no matter how much you want it to, is not always going to go according to plan. Putting yourself on a timeline is only going to leave you stressed out, disappointed, and unhappy with the present.

Do this instead: While wanting things to happen a certain way or having a plan isn't a bad idea, understanding that things can always change and accepting that there are going to be things that are out of your control is a huge asset when going through your twenties. Obsessing over age and socially constructed milestones is only going to hold you back from enjoying your experiences and where you are now.